Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!

I was invited by the Brooklyn Museum to participate in a popup celebrating Asian American Heritage Month on May 1.

I was delighted because as the former head designer for The Metropolitan Museum of Art (I designed all products, jewelry, textiles, personal accessories, special exhibition merchandise, books, stationery, packaging, etc. 25,000 products with packaging total within 5 years! ), I LOVE museums and being in and around them. I am in complete awe and feel extremely happy / inspired to be surrounded by thousands of years of art history, cultures, backgrounds, and beauty!

As an Asian American, I felt proud to take part in this exhibition. It boggles my mind that in the USA often most folks equate being “Asian” to be someone of Chinese, Korean, or Japanese background, East Asians, and don’t include or think that South Asians (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc.) are Asians. I find it odd and funny! We are just as “Asian”. Dialogues need to be had and change needs to take place, ignorance must be stamped out!

It was a beautiful day in Brooklyn with the plaza in front of the Museum filled with music, laughter, children playing, something that was so sorely needed after the depressing 2020 (due to Covid) everyone has had!

I enjoy doing showcases because folks are curious about me and why I as a Hindu, Indian, American woman am an Islamic/Arabic Calligrapher, and learning the story of why I started my brand and hearing about the concepts behind each of my pieces.

The world says “to define my customer base” Well I find that really difficult for me! My customers that day included Japanese Grandmas, Latino Boys, Young African American Gay Men, Hipsters, Hindu folks, Muslim folks, Arab families, Turkish families, and many more! My work appeals to a wide range of races, nationalities, ages, demographics, etc. I believe that art and design are the way to bring together diverse communities. It is a way to heal past traumas, phobias, fight stereotypes, etc. I believe in amplifying positive interconnected stories between global cultures. I had a chance to showcase my new North African Amazigh Collection. Folks enjoyed learning about my journey to Morocco, why the Amazigh people inspire me, and why their culture is so similar to my own Indian heritage/culture.

I had such an amazing time sharing my artistic journey with a variety of different folks! I was so pleasantly surprised to see the variety of folks who appreciated my work! Really warmed my heart!

I really hope to continue to bring my message of peace, understanding, education through art and design to diverse audiences!

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